Wall shell construction

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated wall section for use in swimming pool construction having a molded, glass fiber containing panel defining a facial section with reinforcing structure secured to the rear side thereof. The wall section includes an integral coping along the upper edge of the panel. The wall sections are preferably assembled end-to-end and anchored in concrete.

United States Patent [191 Lankheet WALL SHELL CONSTRUCTION [76] Inventor: Jay A. Lankheet, 579 Ottawa Ave,

Holland, Mich. 49423 22 Filed: June 18, 1973 21 Appl. No: 370,602

[52] US. Cl. 52/169; 4/17221; 52/309; 52/102 [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/16; E02d 29/02 [58] Field of Search 52/248, 267, 169, 742, 52/602, 309; 4/172, 172.19, 172.21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,072,921 1/1963 Hegerfeld 52/742 3,124,905 3/1964 Stier 52/742 3,239,975 3/1966 Stier 52/169 3,242,624 3/1966 Stier 52/169 3,309,827 3/1967 Nicosia 52/602 14 1 May 27, 1975 3,351,958 11/1967 3,487,599 1/1970 3,564,791 2/1971 3,739,539 6/1973 3,745,727 7/1973 Chichester 52/169 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examinerlames L. Ridgill, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A prefabricated wall section for use in swimming pool construction having a molded, glass fiber containing panel defining a facial section with reinforcing structure secured to the rear side thereof. The wall section includes an integral coping along the upper edge of the panel. The wall sections are preferably assembled end-to-end and anchored in concrete.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAYZ? ms 3,885,364

SHEET 01 [1F 3 III Fig.2 33 n PATENTEDHAYZ? ms- 3. 885,364

SHEET BEEF 3 PATENTEBHAYZY 1925 3,885,364

sum 03 0F 3 WALL SHELL CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to prefabricated wall sections and, more particularly, to wall sections having molded panels for use in constructing swimming pools. Further, this invention relates to an improvement in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,500, issued Aug. l3, 1968.

A technique for constructing swimming pools is explained generally in my aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,396,500 and reference is made thereto by way of example. The present invention is directed to an improvement in the structure of prefabricated wall sections utilized in the construction of swimming pools.

It is an object of this invention to provide a prefabricated wall section for use in swimming pools, said section being of light weight construction which will remain in upright position without the use of a heavy brace during the installation of the pool.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a prefabricated wall section incorporating one or a plurality of integral structural reinforcing members which may be of a common shape regardless of the curvature of the particular panel to which they are attached.

It is a further object of this invention to rigidify the prefabricated wall sections in a manner which is less ex pensive than has been known heretofore and yet capable of accomodating differing expansion forces so that the wall section will not crack or separate from adjacent sections during abnormal temperature conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pre fabricated swimming pool wall section which has a preformed integral coping along its upper edge, thus requiring a minimum of hand finishing of the concrete used to anchor the wall, said coping being eyeappealing around the upper periphery of the finished swimming pool.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with the fabrication and/or installation of swimming pool constructions of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragment of a sectional view ofa wall section for use in a swimming pool construction, said section being taken along the line II in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified panel construction taken along a line generally corresponding to the section line IIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI in FIG. 4, but without any concrete or earth fill being shown in association therewith;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view of a fragment of the rear side of a modified wall section for use in a swimming pool construction;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the wall section shown in FIG. 7, which plane contains the apex of the V-shaped reinforcing rib secured thereto; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary of still another modified wall section.

The words up, down," right" and left" will designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words front and rear" will refer to the inner and outer sides, respectively, of the swimming pool wall. Such terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A prefabricated wall section 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a molded (thermo-formed) plastic (Acrylic) panel II having glass fibers therein having any desired shape, such as the shape specifically illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. It may also be flat. More specifically, the panel 11 is curved, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and terminates at its lower edge in a generally S-shaped anchor 12 which extends the full width of the panel. That is, the panel 11 is of thin-wall construction having a majority of both sides thereof generally vertically aligned. The S-shaped anchor 12 includes a first flange 13 which is secured to the bottom edge of the panel 12 and extends rearwardly therefrom. The anchor 12 also has a leg 14 which extends downwardly from the rearward edge of the flange l3 and, finally, a flange 15 extends rearwardly from the bottom edge of the leg 14.

The upper portion of the panel 11 is formed to define a concavity 16 on the rearward side thereof thus forming a decorative convex coping 17 on the front surface thereof which projects frontwardly from the front surface of the panel 11. The coping 17 projects rearwardly and has a horizontal section 18 which extends rearwardly to a point approximately directly above the rear edge of the flange 15 of the S-shaped anchor 12.

A pair of end walls 21 and 22 are provided on the opposite end edges of the panel 11 and extend rearwardly therefrom as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, the upper wall 18, the anchor 12 and the end walls 21 and 22 combine with the panel 11 to define a boxlike receptacle which opens rearwardly.

The panel is thereafter coated on its rear surface with a fiberglass impregnated resin to provide a fiberglass coating 33. The acrylic material of the panel forms a smooth, hard and nonyellowing surface on the front of the panel 11.

A plurality of ribs 23 are thereafter provided in the coated receptacle and extend between the flange 13 of the S-shaped anchor 12 and the wall 18 at the upper end of the panel 11. Each rib 23 is composed of an elongated and rigid element of urethane material 24 which is adhesively secured at 26 to the rear surface 27 of the panel 11. The upper end of the urethane element or rail 24 is enlarged as at 28 (FIG. 1) and the enlargement is received in the concavity l6 defined by the coping 17 at the upper end of the panel 11. The spacing and thicknesses of the urethane rails 24 can be varied as desired, depending upon strength requirements, and they may be integrally molded with the panel 11, as may the end walls 21 and 22. Generally, the urethane rails are identical in shape and, if more stiffening is required for the panel 11, the additional urethane rails may be augmented as discussed hereinafter.

A protuberance 29 is provided along the rear edge of each of the urethane rails 29 preferably near the upper end thereof and has an opening 31 therethrough. An elongated steel rod 32 is received through each of the openings 31 and preferably extends continuously along the panel 11, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

ll ile-ireil the panel 1! may have u pluruliiv ole-Tim llilLkl recesses 35 molded herein In imitziie n ee lie in appearance immediately beneath the eupirig 17. as illustrated iii FIG. I

The preilihriemeii wail seeiiuzi ll! described herein- AIMHC is uiiiiyeel iii the iullnwing manner during the eniwirizeiiuii iii 11 sii'iiiiniiiig pool A plurality of Willl Si Clii'llm Ill re PliiCULl endii eml 10 define the PCHPh' ea iii shape iii'ihe pm l The S-shameel unehur 124m ezieli i the 'ii efaibrieziteil llilllclb; 1U is urge-cl inlii the li'mh ennerele Hour 36 wl iiecnt the pCiipllCfV tl'lLl'LUlSu thili tle iznncrcic engages the lower edge of ihe \Lfl'll ei'il NU? face Ofthe acrylic PEiIlLZl ll as illustrated in FIG 1. i lie eimereie Hum 36 i then made sun-0th by lhiliCl and item permitted ie hiiUlLll Earth fill 1H other like SUllEl eiiiistriie'iieii material is then pushed gently min engagement with [he 'LLlf slu'tliee iii \Ull'l of the premiumeiiteil wall SLICEl lS ll) leiniiig 1i giiielu'l ElLllElLL'lil [lie upper end Hf he mill wherein the steel rod 32 is yet 1; posed [hereafter J1 emiereie deck 3) is poured 50 that the iippe r sii riiiee 4! theieof is flush with lirupper siir Lieu i i the lilill'kiiiili extension is i i" the coping E7. The eiiierete piiiizeil izziu the pocket 58 will CfTIll LTLl the \lLUl mil therein Limi ScH'C in further strengthen and ii giilit the upper 'iuiuuii of the pi'eiiii iieaiteil iiiill see- [ll'lil llli (uiieieie Hlf-li! eiilei'rs iiim lllL iliiiieiii'it lfi he 'Weeii the tihs 23.

iuieii miiel i iii WllhTli may he ltlLi'iIiLill iii shape til the we? 1% iii. ififltil here Mil eu; llie (iiffereiiee lie Ia LCH Elie mail lily; illustrated in Nb, 4 llliLl Llie mill Hi i iustruieii in Fifi l is that CLlL'll oi the ribs; 26A s lillc' ginil with the ili'elllulit fllLllCfllll 4G iihieh .lmium Li TLlil filling: lllk eiillullfiy 16A lFlCi 5 I. The run willie: the pimel ilfi iQ united with Ll liliei'ghi; iiiipregiiiiieil liTiJiliLlIiL Hi 13A Liilll he urethane mil iiteieiiii si with nl llie lllim m lllllhlllllcil ll; Hi iiilliemier fiCiQLlFCLi iii the i'eiii' siii'iliee iii ilie miiei l ii.

in ill. 3 H iih ieeess 4. ii'iiihleil iilli i ie iiiiiel 15A mr reeep "i imie iiliw 4. which may l e My eiiiyli vi the Iil'ifi 23A 11ml his :iti Uplnillg theieiliniiigh 32A The lilQlLlllJllilll iii the liii ieeeiimg ii lll e mime in; iiiweuaaed ulmie Wiih i lll ie'igl iii the i V :ieetiuna it) Fililioiiuii lillllLlllH' irefeireii emliiidimeiiis in iiiiiiiuji r'li ll lime l ven disclosed in deiiiil in; illuiti'iiiiwe l iill fus. Ii mil lie YkCF-lll ll-Fftl ihui miriziliiiiis PF mildllLLillR llS iii ilie diseliiaeil LLFPLU'ZiEllh ll'iLllllL'illlg the 1' liiigemeiii i l piirh. lie Within the seieipe ml the pres 1S prmiued iiii ihi: rear edge ml fil 'l he L il'lll"\'lLliEli,flll\ iii the? iiiieiiiiiiii lIi which iiii LXLlll aim: Pfl' fikl'll. i i iii'ii liege l5 l'llllll liUl ill! iieliiieil m lllll Euwx I. A wall enii atriieiii ill in: n wxifiiming pun; i'ui'ii irising:

it niiiiiied plastic: Hid filieiglasa wail sceiimi having an upeii biixlike eiiiiiigimitiuii. Slllill will wi'iinii hming Lii'i enlarged limiinii': miiel ii hieli i lli'illllill dis SUl'lHlLilllll l i wriieiil ili'ieiiwiiimv Elie .il F lliti l'li'ilii'JEiL panel ei iiigirisiiie iii;

llllltil surliiee ll'l'll t liili ul k l sec Sltikl Miil -iim'i iTiLlLlkllIh ii i.

with LiIlLl Li iitfii lfig ailing illi. ii ipei' e" lflill'lifh sum wall seelirm LilSU iiieli ilLiiige integral with EHH! emi edge iii 52ml g mlli ige eueh p; Sliiil. \Llll RCCUUH lm,

miiiig ll" Lg the liiwei' and mid inn inil i an sine;

lieween iLLliQl i VIV'FLEW lii a iil' ii iiigiil L llllili'al ixeilli iiniiiiiir ill ill

wil

neeiiywini n; HQl I MLH aiiiiiwi llli'l, CllL'lI iii" will ribs lilivii ii ieiiiiiu ex'ieiiiiiii iheiehllll'lllllllli niillulllfl Willi siiiil huh pliii'ziliii ml rilis emii Lflllllgiii liil iieiil iiiii iiieziiis ieeeiweel \willTH min phi rfilx iii .lljLlll! uni exieiiiiiiig llFP-VTCE] bl'ilil pinriiliiy Ul rilm. Hillll (l? Swill liem Sl'MtLIL'Ll ream whereby iiii mil L LlL Ll wiiliiii iiii'iii'ele mill ieii semi mull imiiirili iieiiwii 1H liviiilllljll.

mime-ml licfih iiii fl 7'' 7 ,l. V Mill Wgill Fi guiii' ii iii lair ggw 1 llil l'ik l l ilijljl llll w ill v ll wi iel,

ijhpllljll lllLiilmllil l li iiil viii Amalia f-iu euiiiifl rearw ardly from said panel and extending vertically between said coping and said anchoring flange; and

a plurality of upright and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs fixedly secured to said wall section, said ribs being laterally spaced from one another and fixedly secured to the rear surface of said panel, each of said ribs being relatively narrow and occupying a relatively minor part of said rear surface, and said ribs being formed with an enlarged portion on the upper end thereof projecting into and filling the cavity defined by said projecting portion.

3. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein said ribs are constructed of a rigid plastic material and extend throughout the height of said panel from the horizontal flange portion of said coping to said anchoring flange.

4. A wall construction according to claim 2, including an elongated rail constructed of a rigid plastic material and positioned within the cavity defined by said projecting portion, said rail extending longitudinally of said cavity and substantially filling same, said rail being fixedly connected to said plurality of spaced ribs.

5. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein said panel has a pair of vertically spaced grooves adjacent the bottom wall of said swimming pool; and

a liner having a rib and a seal adjacent the upper edge thereof, each being received in one of said grooves.

6. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said wall sections are arranged laterally adjacent one another to define the peripheral shape of a pool, the rearward surface of said panels being mounted against and buttressed by concrete, earth fill or like solid construction materials; and

at least one rigid rod coacting with said wall sections and embedded in said solid construction material buttressing said one side of said panels to structurally reinforce the pool construction.

7. A wall construction according to claim 6, wherein each said rib has an opening extending therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of said rib, the openings as formed in said plurality of ribs being substantially aligned, and said rigid rod extending through said plurality of openings and being supported on and interconnecting said plurality of ribs, said rigid rod being disposed substantially parallel with but spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said panel. 

1. A wall construction for a swimming pool, comprising: a molded plastic and fiberglass wall section having an open boxlike configuration, said wall section having an enlarged bottom panel which is normally disposed in a substantially vertical orientation, the outer surface of said bottom panel comprising the front side of said wall section; said wall section including a coping integrally formed with and extending along the upper edge of said panel, said wall section also including an anchoring flange integral with and extending along the lower edge of said panel, said coping and said anchoring flange each projecting rearwardly of said panel; said wall section further including a pair of end walls integral with and extending along the opposite vertical edges of said panel, saId end walls projecting rearwardly from said panel and extending vertically between said coping and said anchoring flange; a plurality of upright and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs fixedly secured to said wall section, said ribs being laterally spaced from one another and fixedly secured to the rear surface of said panel, each of said ribs being relatively narrow and occupying a relatively minor part of said rear surface; each of said ribs having an opening extending therethrough perpendicular to the elongated length of said rib, said opening extending in a direction substantially parallel with said rear surface, the openings as formed in said plurality of ribs being substantially aligned; and elongated rigid rod means received within said plurality of openings and extending between said plurality of ribs, said rod means being spaced rearwardly of said rear surface, whereby said rod means is adapted to be embedded within concrete or the like when said wall construction is installed.
 2. A wall construction for a swimming pool, comprising: a molded plastic and fiberglass wall section having an open boxlike configuration, said wall section having an enlarged bottom panel which is normally disposed in a substantially vertical orientation, the outer surface of said bottom panel comprising the front side of said wall section; said wall section including a coping integrally formed with and extending along the upper edge of said panel, said wall section also including an anchoring flange integral with and extending along the lower edge of said panel, said anchoring flange projecting rearwardly of said panel; said coping including a projecting portion which is fixed to and extends along the upper edge of said panel and projects forwardly from the outer surface of said panel, said coping also having a substantially horizontal flange portion which is integrally connected with the upper end of said projecting portion, said horizontal flange portion projecting rearwardly beyond the rear surface of said panel; said wall section further including a pair of end walls integral with and extending along the opposite vertical edges of said panel, said end walls projecting rearwardly from said panel and extending vertically between said coping and said anchoring flange; and a plurality of upright and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs fixedly secured to said wall section, said ribs being laterally spaced from one another and fixedly secured to the rear surface of said panel, each of said ribs being relatively narrow and occupying a relatively minor part of said rear surface, and said ribs being formed with an enlarged portion on the upper end thereof projecting into and filling the cavity defined by said projecting portion.
 3. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein said ribs are constructed of a rigid plastic material and extend throughout the height of said panel from the horizontal flange portion of said coping to said anchoring flange.
 4. A wall construction according to claim 2, including an elongated rail constructed of a rigid plastic material and positioned within the cavity defined by said projecting portion, said rail extending longitudinally of said cavity and substantially filling same, said rail being fixedly connected to said plurality of spaced ribs.
 5. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein said panel has a pair of vertically spaced grooves adjacent the bottom wall of said swimming pool; and a liner having a rib and a seal adjacent the upper edge thereof, each being received in one of said grooves.
 6. A wall construction according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of said wall sections are arranged laterally adjacent one another to define the peripheral shape of a pool, the rearward surface of said panels being mounted against and buttressed by concrete, earth fill or like solid construction materials; and at least one rigid rod coacting with said wall sections and embeDded in said solid construction material buttressing said one side of said panels to structurally reinforce the pool construction.
 7. A wall construction according to claim 6, wherein each said rib has an opening extending therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of said rib, the openings as formed in said plurality of ribs being substantially aligned, and said rigid rod extending through said plurality of openings and being supported on and interconnecting said plurality of ribs, said rigid rod being disposed substantially parallel with but spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said panel. 